Newport Jazz Festival Celebrates 60 Years of Miles Davis

On August 1-2 during the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management, Grammy Award®-winning author and music historian Ashley Kahn will curate two seminars each day on the renowned trumpet player, Miles Davis, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Davis' first performance at Newport on July 17, 1955.

Highlights of the Miles Davis tribute include an interview with longtime friend of Davis, George Wein, conducted by New York Times critic Nate Chinen; a celebration of Miles and the St. Louis trumpet tradition; and a discussion of Miles' romance with electric guitars. There will also be a playback of music from the new Columbia/Legacy Recordings box set Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol.4, with co-producer of the collection - Grammy Award®-winning producer Steve Berkowitz and consultant Nell Mulderry - Miles' nephew, drummer Vince Wilburn, Jr., and Miles' son Erin Davis.

Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975 will be available everywhere on Friday, July 17 - 60 years to the date since Davis' breakthrough performance at Newport in 1955 - through Columbia/Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.

The full schedule features:

Saturday, August 1 - 1:00-2:00 pm

MILES & GEORGE: Wein talks about his long relationship with Miles to Nate Chinen

Saturday, August 1 - 3:15-4:15 pm

MILES & NEWPORT: MILES DAVIS AT NEWPORT 1955-1975: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 4 is the title of a new four-CD set featuring a musical overview of Miles' relationship with Newport Jazz. Excerpts from the collection will be played in addition to discussions with co-producer Steve Berkowitz, packager Nell Mulderry, Miles' nephew, drummer Vince Wilburn, Jr., Miles' son Erin Davis, and moderator Ashley Kahn.

Sunday, August 2 - 1:00-2:00 pm

MILES & THE ELECTRIC GUITAR: Guitarist and festival performer Mike Stern,Rolling Stone journalist David Fricke, and author and critic Bill Milkowskijoin moderator Ashley Kahn to discuss and play examples of Miles' guitar infatuation.

Sunday, August 2 - 3:15-4:15 pm

MILES, CLARK TERRY & ST. LOUIS TRUMPETERS: Trumpeters and festival performers Jon Faddis and Randy Sandke join moderator Ashley Kahn in celebrating Terry, Miles and other St. Louis trumpet stars with music and video excerpts.

For more information on the Newport Jazz Festival presented by Natixis Global Asset Management visit here.

Related Slideshow: 30 Things To Do In Rhode Island Before You Die

There's a ton to do in Rhode Island, but these activities are some of the best.

Make sure you mark each one of your bucket-list and there's no better time to start but now!

#1

Join the small group of people who have had a State House insider bring them up the stairs towards the top of the State House. Along the way make sure you take in the many amazing murals of the Rotunda.

Once you conquer the stairs, you’ll be as high as the marble dome and “Independent Man” sit and take in breathtaking views for miles around.